U.S. patent number 9,675,212 [Application Number 14/802,706] was granted by the patent office on 2017-06-13 for container for food processing system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC. Invention is credited to Charles Brunner, Ping Chu, James R. Hewitt, Mark Lance, Nick OLoughlin.
United States Patent |
9,675,212 |
Hewitt , et al. |
June 13, 2017 |
Container for food processing system
Abstract
A container configured for use with a food processing system is
provided including a container body configurable with a food
processing base. A chamber is defined by the container body. A
pressure relief mechanism is associated with the container body and
is configured to relieve pressure when the pressure within the
chamber exceeds a defined pressure threshold.
Inventors: |
Hewitt; James R. (Norfolk,
MA), Chu; Ping (Hong Kong, CN), OLoughlin;
Nick (Newton, MA), Brunner; Charles (North Reading,
MA), Lance; Mark (Newton, MA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC |
Newton |
MA |
US |
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Assignee: |
SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
(Newton, MA)
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Family
ID: |
56553618 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/802,706 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160220071 A1 |
Aug 4, 2016 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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62111244 |
Feb 3, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
25/56 (20130101); B65D 81/3818 (20130101); B65D
81/38 (20130101); A47J 43/0727 (20130101); A47J
43/0722 (20130101); A47J 43/0716 (20130101); A47J
43/046 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
43/07 (20060101); B65D 81/38 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;241/282.1,282.2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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101637242 |
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Feb 2010 |
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CN |
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203468415 |
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Mar 2014 |
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CN |
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2275013 |
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Jan 2011 |
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EP |
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2522261 |
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Nov 2012 |
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EP |
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Other References
Invitiation to Pay Additional Fees; International Application No.
PCT/US2016/016083; International Filing Date: Feb. 2, 2016; Date of
Mailing: May 4, 2016; 8 Pages. cited by applicant .
Application for Registration of an Industrial Design Examiner's
Report; Canadaian Application No. 166420; Date of Issue: May 11,
2016; 2 Pages. cited by applicant .
Food Machines International General Catalogue; JPO Publicly Known
Design No. HC17002749; Oct. 2004; 5 Pages. cited by applicant .
International Search Report; International Application No.
PCT/US2016/016083; International Filing Date: Feb. 2, 2016; Date of
Mailing: Jun. 21, 2016; 8 Pages. cited by applicant .
Notice of Allowance; Japanese Design Application No. 2016-000591;
Mailing Date: Jun. 22, 2016; 2 Pages. cited by applicant .
Notice of References; Japanese Design Application No. 2016-000591;
Decided on: Jul. 19, 2016; 4 Pages. cited by applicant .
Notice of the Preliminary Rejection; Korean Application No.
3020160001832; Date of Issue: May 23, 2016; 2 Pages. cited by
applicant .
Requirement for Restriction/Election; U.S. Appl. No. 29/533,491;
Filing Date: Jul. 17, 2015; Blender Attachment; Notification Date:
Aug. 9, 2016; 19 Pages; Available in Image File Wrapper. cited by
applicant .
Sugico Parts Catalogue; JPO Publicly Known Design No. HC18022081;
No. 05P; 3 Pages. cited by applicant .
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority;
International Application No. PCT/US2016/016083; International
Filing Date: Feb. 2, 2016; Date of Mailing: Jul. 21, 2016; 9 Pages.
cited by applicant .
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due; U.S. Appl. No. 29/533,491; Filing
Date: Jul. 17, 2015; Blender Attachment; Notification Date; Nov.
21, 2016; 12 Pages; Available in Image File Wrapper. cited by
applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; Mark
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cantor Colburn LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 62/111,244 filed Feb. 3, 2015, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A container configured for use with a food processing system,
comprising: a container configurable with a food processing base,
the container including a container body having a first open end
and a second closed end, wherein said first open end is configured
to associate with said food processing base via a cutting assembly;
a chamber defined by said container body; a collar configured to
associate said first open end of said container body with said food
processing base and a pressure relief mechanism integrated with a
fixed portion of said container, the pressure relief mechanism
being configured to relieve pressure when a pressure within said
chamber exceeds a defined pressure threshold, said pressure relief
mechanism is formed as part of said collar.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said defined
pressure threshold is between about 2 and 7 psi.
3. The container according to claim 1, wherein said pressure relief
mechanism is configured to deform when said pressure within said
chamber exceeds said defined pressure threshold.
4. The container according to claim 3, wherein deformation of said
pressure relief mechanism is configured to increase a volume of
said chamber.
5. The container according to claim 3, wherein said pressure relief
mechanism is configured to elastically deform.
6. The container according to claim 5, wherein said pressure relief
mechanism includes a structure connected to a biasing mechanism,
wherein when said pressure within said chamber exceeds said defined
pressure threshold, said pressure compresses the biasing
mechanism.
7. The container according to claim 5, wherein elastic deformation
of said pressure relief mechanism is configured to vent a fluid
from within said chamber to outside said container body.
8. The container according to claim 3, wherein said pressure relief
mechanism is configured to plastically deform.
9. The container according to claim 8, wherein said pressure relief
mechanism includes an area having reduced wall thickness relative
to an adjacent portion of the container.
10. The container according to claim 1, wherein said container body
includes an interior wall and an exterior wall, the interior wall
and the exterior wall being arranged in contact at a first end.
11. The container according to claim 10, wherein at least one of
said interior wall and said exterior wall is formed from a
stainless steel material.
Description
BACKGROUND
This application is directed to a food processor, and more
particularly, to an attachment for use with a food processor.
Food processors, such as blenders generally include containers or
multi-sized containers or jars mounted on a base unit. These
containers or multi-sized containers or jars are commonly used to
process a plurality of different food products, including liquids,
solids, semi-solids, gels and the like. It is well-known that
blenders are useful devices for blending, cutting, and dicing food
products in a wide variety of commercial settings, including home
kitchen use, professional restaurant or food services use, and
large-scale industrial use. They offer a convenient alternative to
chopping or dicing by hand, and often come with a range of
operational settings and modes adapted to provide specific types or
amounts of food processing, e.g., as catered to particular food
products.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment, container configured for use with a
food processing system is provided including a container body
configurable with a food processing base. A chamber is defined by
the container body. A pressure relief mechanism is associated with
the container body and is configured to relieve pressure when the
pressure within the chamber exceeds a defined pressure
threshold.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said defined pressure
threshold is between about 2 and 7 psi.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments a collar is configured to
associate said container body with said food processing base. The
pressure relief mechanism is formed as part of said collar.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said container body includes
a first end and a second opposite end. At least one of said first
end and second end is open and configured to associate with said
food processing base via a cutting assembly.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said pressure relief
mechanism is configured to deform when said pressure within said
chamber exceeds said defined pressure threshold.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments deformation of said pressure
relief mechanism is configured to increase a volume of said
chamber.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said pressure relief
mechanism is configured to elastically deform.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments wherein said pressure relief
mechanism includes a structure connected to a biasing mechanism.
When said pressure within said chamber exceeds said defined
pressure threshold, said pressure compresses the biasing
mechanism.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments elastic deformation of said
pressure relief mechanism is configured to vent a fluid from within
said chamber to outside said container body.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said pressure relief
mechanism is configured to plastically deform.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said pressure relief
mechanism includes an area having reduced wall thickness relative
to an adjacent portion of the container.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said container body includes
an interior wall and an exterior wall. The interior wall and the
exterior wall are arranged in contact at a first end.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments at least one of said
interior wall and said exterior wall is formed from a stainless
steel material.
According to another embodiment, a container configured for use
with a food processing system is provided including a container
body configurable with a food processing base. The container body
includes an interior wall and an exterior wall. The interior wall
and the exterior wall are arranged in contact at a first end. At
least one of the interior wall and the exterior wall is formed from
a non-resilient material. A chamber is defined by the container
body.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments a space is formed between at
least a portion of the interior wall and the exterior wall, said
space being filled with an insulating material.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments at least one of said
interior wall and said exterior wall is formed from a stainless
steel material.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said container body includes
at least one of a protrusion formed in said interior wall and a
recess formed in said exterior wall.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments a collar is configured to
associate said container body with said food processing base. The
collar is formed from a resilient material.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments a cutting assembly is
configured to couple to said container body and associate said
container body with said food processing base. At least a portion
of said cutting assembly is formed from a resilient material.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments a pressure relief mechanism
is associated with said container body and is configured to relieve
pressure when a pressure within said chamber exceeds a defined
pressure threshold.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said defined pressure
threshold is between about 2 and 7 psi.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said pressure relief
mechanism is configured to deform when said pressure within said
chamber exceeds said defined pressure threshold.
According to another embodiment, a food processing system is
provided including a food processing base. A first container is
configured with a food processing base. The first container
includes at least one first wall configured to define a first
chamber therein. The at least one first wall is formed form a first
material. A second container separated from the first container is
configured for use with the food processing base. The second
container includes at least one second wall configured to define a
second chamber therein. The at least one second wall is formed from
a second material different that the first material. A cutting
assembly is compatible with both the first container and the second
container. The cutting assembly is configured to process food
within said first chamber when said first container is coupled to
the food processing base. The cutting assembly is also configured
to process food within said second chamber when the second
container is coupled to the food processing base.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments the food processing system
is a personal blender system.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments said at least one first wall
is formed from a plastic material and said at least one second wall
is formed from a non-resilient material.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments the second container
includes a plurality of second walls.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments the cutting assembly further
includes a spindle, at least one first cutting blade extending
radially outward and longitudinally upward from the spindle, and at
least one second cutting blade extending radially outward and
longitudinally downward from the spindle.
According to another embodiment, a container configured for use
with a food processing system is provided including a container
body configurable with a food processing base. The container body
includes an interior wall and an exterior wall arranged in contact
at a first end. The interior wall and the exterior wall are formed
from a single piece of non-resilient material. A chamber is defined
by the container body. A collar is mounted to the first end of the
container body such that a seal is formed between the collar and
the contact between the interior wall and the exterior wall.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments the collar includes an
annular undercut and the first end of said container body includes
an annular protrusion. The annular protrusion is complementary to
and receivable within said annular undercut.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as
an alternative, in further embodiments the undercut of said collar
is configured to shrink about said protrusion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the
specification embodies several aspects of the present disclosure
and, together with the description, serves to explain the
principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of a food processing
system;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base of a food processing
system;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a food processing system according
to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container configured for use with
the food processing system according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a container configured for use with
the food processing system according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a container configured for use
with the food processing system according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a container
configured for use with the food processing system according to an
embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container configured for use with
the food processing system according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cutting assembly configured for
use with the container according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the cutting
assembly of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a coupled cutting assembly and
container configured for use with the food processing system
according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another coupled cutting assembly
and container configured for use with the food processing system
according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure relief system of
the food processing system according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of another pressure relief system
of a container configured for use with the food processing system
according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 15 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a pressure relief
mechanism of a container configured for use with the food
processing system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another pressure relief mechanism
of a container configured for use with the food processing system
according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another pressure relief mechanism
of a container configured for use with the food processing system
according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of yet another pressure relief
mechanism of a container configured for use with the food
processing system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of yet another pressure relief
mechanism of a container configured for use with the food
processing system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of yet another pressure relief
mechanism of a container configured for use with the food
processing system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure relief system of
the food processing system according to an embodiment of the
disclosure; and
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of another pressure relief system
of the food processing system according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
The detailed description explains embodiments of the present
disclosure, together with advantages and features, by way of
example with reference to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the FIG. 1, an example of a multi-functional food
processing system 20 is illustrated in more detail. In general, the
food processing system 20 can be adapted to perform any food
processing or blending operation including as non-limiting
examples, dicing, chopping, cutting, slicing, mixing, blending,
stirring, crushing, or the like. Although the food processing
system 20 illustrated and described herein is a personal blender
system, other food processing systems are within the scope of the
present disclosure. The food processing 20 system includes a base
22 having a body or housing 24 within which a motorized unit (not
shown) and at least one controller (not shown) are located. The
base 22 includes at least one rotary component, such as a drive
coupler 26 (see FIG. 2) for example, driven by the motorized unit
within the body 24. The base 22 additionally includes a control
panel or user interface 28 with one or more input devices 29 for
turning the motorized unit on and off and for selecting various
modes of operation, such as pulsing, blending, or continuous food
processing. The at least one drive coupler 26 is configured to
engage a portion of an attachment 30 coupled to the base 22 for the
processing of food products located within an interior of the
attachment 30. This will become more apparent in subsequent FIGS.
and discussion.
A plurality of interchangeable attachments 30 varying in size
and/or functionality may be configured for use with the base 22.
For example, in FIG. 1, the attachment 30 connected to the food
processor base 22 is a clear plastic container. Other examples of
attachments 30 configured for use with the base 22 include a
grinder attachment and a spiralizer attachment for example. Another
example of an attachment 30 configured for use with the food
processing system 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 3-11. As shown, the
apparatus is a container 30 including a body 32 having an interior
wall or surface 34, an exterior wall or surface 36, and a first end
38 coupled to a portion of both the interior wall 36 and the
exterior wall 36. Together the interior wall 34 and the first end
38 of the body 32 define a cavity 42 within which at least one food
item to be processed is received. Generally, the second end 40 of
the container 30 is closed or sealed and the first end 38 of the
container 30 is open such that food products to be processed may be
inserted into the cavity 42 of the container 30 via the first end
38. Although the container 30 illustrated and described herein
includes a body 32 having an interior and exterior wall 34, 36, it
should be understood that embodiments where the body 32 includes
only a single wall are also within the scope of the disclosure.
The interior wall 34 and the exterior wall 36 may be arranged in
physical contact at only one of a first end 38 and a second
opposite end 40 of the body 32, such as the first end 38 at contact
point 44 for example. Embodiments where the interior wall 34 and
the exterior wall 36 are arranged in contact at both the first end
38 and the second end 40 are also within the scope of the present
disclosure. In one embodiment, the interior wall 34 is formed from
a first non-resilient material (i.e. non-plastic material) and the
exterior wall 36 is formed from a second non-resilient material.
The first and second non-resilient materials may be the same, or
alternatively, may be different. In embodiments where the first and
second non-resilient material are the same stainless steel, the
interior wall 34 and the exterior wall 36 may be formed from a
single sheet of stainless steel material. However, in other
embodiments, at least one of the interior wall 34 and the exterior
wall 36 may be formed from a plastic material or another suitable
material. The contact point 44 between the interior wall 34 and the
exterior wall 36 may be formed via rolling, bending, or any other
suitable forming technique. For example, the interior and exterior
walls 34, 36 may be formed by rolling a flat sheet into a cylinder
and then welding the walls together, such as at contact point
44.
A space generally exists between the interior wall 34 and the
exterior wall 36. In some embodiments, the container body 32
includes an insulating material 46 such as foam, aerogel,
fiberglass or polymeric material, among others, arranged within the
space, between the interior wall 34 and the exterior wall 36. In
other embodiments, the space between the interior wall 34 and the
exterior wall 36 may be a vacuum or filled with air. In one
embodiment, an aperture 48 is formed at the second end 40 of the
container 30 for introducing the insulating material 46 between the
interior wall 34 and the exterior wall 36.
One or more protrusions 50 extending towards a center of the cavity
42 may be formed in the interior wall 34 of the container 30. As
shown, a plurality of protrusions 50 are formed about the periphery
of the interior wall 34 and extend at least partially between the
first end 38 and the second end 40. The plurality of protrusions 50
may be substantially identical or may differ. Inclusion of at least
one protrusion 50 on the interior wall 34 may improve the
efficiency of the blending process when the container 30 is
attached to a base 22 by breaking helping to break up any food
products arranged within the cavity 42. More specifically, the ribs
or protrusions 50 may help to disrupt the swirling of the food
products, thereby facilitating the blending or break down of the
food or liquid products therein.
Alternatively, or in addition, the container 30 may include one or
more recesses 52 extending towards a center of the cavity 42,
formed in the exterior wall 36 of the container 30. As shown, a
plurality of substantially identical recesses 52 are formed about
the periphery of the exterior wall 36 and extend at least partially
between the first end 38 and the second end 40. However, the
plurality of recesses 52 may differ. In operation, the recesses 52
may facilitate a user in holding or securing the container 30 in
his or her hand by providing additional traction for fingers to
engage within the recesses 52. In some embodiments, one or more of
the recesses 52 and protrusions 50 are substantially aligned with
one another. In other words, formation of the protrusions 50 about
the interior wall 34 may lead to corresponding formation of
recesses 52 about the exterior wall 36. Alternatively, the
protrusions 50 and the recesses 52 need not be in substantial
alignment and formation of one need not necessarily lead to the
formation of the other.
As shown in FIG. 6, the container 30 may include one or more
markings 54, such as formed within the interior wall 34 for
example. The at least one marking 54 extends at least partially
between the first end 38 of the container 30 and the second,
opposite end 40. The markings 54 generally include numbers,
markers, or other indicators configured to help a user quantify the
amount of food products or fluids within the cavity 42.
In one embodiment, the second end 40 of the container 30 includes a
structure 56, such as a bubble or concaving feature (see FIG. 7).
In operation, the structure 56 facilitates in the mixing or
blending process by mitigating the challenges created by the
angular corners of the second end 40 of the container 30. Food
products may have a tendency to get stuck at the bottom of second
end 40. By incorporating the structure 56, the mixing or blending
process is disturbed so as to improve the processing of the food
products contained within the container 30.
A collar 60 is arranged adjacent the first end 38 of the container
30. In one embodiment, the collar 60 includes a plurality of
outwardly extending guides or tabs 62 configured to secure the
container 30 to the base 22 of the food processing system 20. In
other embodiments, these tabs 62 may be integrally formed with the
body 32 of the container 30. The collar 60 may be formed from a
plastic material, such as a thermoplastic, polyester, or more
specifically, a glycol-modified polycychlohexylenedimethylene
terephthalate (PCTG) for example. In one embodiment, as illustrated
in FIG. 8, the collar 60 is disposed about periphery of the
exterior wall 36 of the container 30 near the first end 38, such as
via a snap fit connection for example. In such embodiments, a
coupling mechanism 64 configured to secure the container 30 to a
cutting assembly 70, for example a plurality of threads, is formed
in the interior wall 34 adjacent the first end 38. In another
embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the collar 60 is directly
coupled to the first end 38 of the container 30, such as via
bonding or another suitable attachment process. In such
embodiments, the may collar 60 include an annular undercut and the
first end 38 of the container 30 may include a complementary
annular protrusion receivable within the undercut. The collar 60
may be heated prior to being connected to the container 30 such
that once coupled, the material of the collar 60 shrinks over the
protrusion at the first end 38. When the collar 60 is attached
directly to the end 38 of the container 30, the coupling mechanism
64 configured to secure the container 30 to a cutting assembly 70
is formed in an interior surface 66 of the collar 60 adjacent a
distal end 68 thereof. The collar 60 may additionally include a
plurality of protrusions similar to the protrusions 50 formed in
the interior wall 34 to assist with crushing ice.
An example of the cutting assembly 70 is illustrated in FIG. 9.
Although the cutting assembly 70 is described herein with reference
to container 30, the cutting assembly 70 may additionally be
configured for use with other attachments of the food processing
system 20, such as the clear plastic container shown in FIG. 1 for
example. The cutting assembly 70 is configured to removably couple
to the first end 38 of the container 30 or the collar 60 mounted
thereto. In one embodiment, the cutting assembly 70 is generally
formed from a plastic material and includes a coupling mechanism
72, such as a plurality of threads complementary to the threads 64
formed in the container 30 or collar 60. When attached, the cutting
assembly 70 seals the first end 38 of the container 30 such that
the food products contained within the chamber 42 are unable to
escape the container 30. As shown, the rotatable cutting assembly
70 includes a spindle 74 configured to rotate about an axis A and
having a blade assembly 100 mounted thereto.
An example of a blade assembly 100, illustrated in FIG. 10, further
includes a plurality of cutting blades 110 extending radially
outward at an angle from the spindle 74. Each of the cutting blades
110a-d has a sharp cutting edge 112, a blunt spine edge 114, and a
cutting blade face 118 there between. In general, two or more of
the cutting blades 110a-d may be included in pairs. Furthermore,
one or more of the cutting blades 110a-d generally can extend both
radially outward from the spindle 74 and longitudinally upward or
longitudinally downward along the spindle 74. For example, in
accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 4, the cutting blades 110a-d
can include a first pair of opposing cutting blades 110a, 110b
extending radially outward from the spindle 74 and longitudinally
downward along the spindle 74, as well as a second pair of opposing
cutting blades 110c, 110d extending radially outward from the
spindle 74 and longitudinally upward along the spindle 74. The
first pair of opposing cutting blades 110a, 110b are "opposing" in
that they are disposed around the spindle 74 separated by an
angular displacement of about 180 degrees. The second pair of
opposing cutting blades 110c, 110d likewise are "opposing" in that
they are disposed around the spindle 74 separated by an angular
displacement of about 180 degrees. As depicted, the first pair of
opposing cutting blades 110a, 110b and the second pair of opposing
cutting blades 110c, 110d are disposed around the spindle 74
separated from each other by an angular displacement of about 90
degrees.
Although four cutting blades 110a-d are depicted in the exemplary
embodiment of FIG. 10, it should be appreciated that any other
number of cutting blades 110a-d (e.g., one, two, three, five, six,
etc.) alternatively can be included in the blade assembly 100.
Furthermore, although the cutting blades 110a-d are generally
separated by about 90 degree increments in the illustrated,
non-limiting embodiment, it should be appreciated that the cutting
blades 110a-d alternatively can be separated by any other suitable
amount(s), which may be a uniform or variable amount among the
plurality of cutting blades 110a-d.
In addition to the cutting blades 110a-d, the blade assembly 100
further includes a plurality of transition sections 120 located
between the spindle 74 and the plurality of cutting blades 110.
Each of the transition sections 120a-d define the angle at which
each of the cutting blades 110 extend longitudinally downward (in
the case of blades 110a, 110b) or longitudinally upward (in the
case of blades 110c, 110d). In other words, the bends in the blade
assembly 100 forming the angles of each of the cutting blades
110a-d exists in the transition sections 120a-d.
A gusset 130, as described above, is integrally formed on at least
one of the plurality of transition sections 120. The gusset 130
forms a raised portion 124 on the top surface 122 and a cavity 126
on the bottom surface 128. Although one gusset 130 is depicted in
the embodiment of FIG. 10, it should be appreciated that any other
number of gussets 130 (e.g., one, two, three, four, etc.)
alternatively can be included in the blade assembly 100. While the
gusset 130 is shown as being integrally formed on the upper pair of
cutting blades 110c, 110d, one or more gussets could also be
likewise formed on the lower pair of cutting blades 110a, 110b.
In addition to the cutting blades 110a-d and the transition
sections 120a-d, the blade assembly 100 can include at least one
crushing blade 140 extending longitudinally outwardly from the
spindle 74 (e.g., vertically upward, as oriented in FIG. 10). Each
crushing blade 142 has a first edge 144, a second edge 146, and a
crushing blade face 148 there between. In the embodiment of FIG.
10, two crushing blades 142 are disposed around the spindle 74
separated by an angular displacement of about 180 degrees. The two
crushing blades 142 are substantially parallel to each other, as
depicted. The crushing blade face 148 of each crushing blade 142
can be substantially flat and each can have a top edge that is
sloped (e.g., by 45 degrees, or any other amount) relative to a
plane containing a direction of rotation of the blade assembly 100.
It should be noted that the first edge 144 and second edge 146
represent smaller dimensions of the blade, while the crushing blade
face 148 is a relatively substantially greater dimension, as would
be interpreted in accordance with the customary labels for these
parts of a knife blade or similar structure. In one embodiment, the
rotational speed of the spindle 74 is between about 12,000 rpm and
about 22,000 rpm.
Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the cutting assembly 70 includes
a coupling 78, complementary to the at least one drive coupler 26
of the base 22, disposed at the underside of the cutting assembly
70. When coupled to the container 30, the at least one blade 76 is
disposed within the chamber 42 such that rotation thereof is
adapted to facilitate processing and/or blending of the food
products arranged therein. Once the cutting assembly 70 is secured
to the container 30, the container 30 may be connected to the base
22 of the food processing system 10.
The container 30, and possibly any of the other attachment
configured for use with the base 22, may be configured to slidably
connect thereto. Alternatively or in addition, the attachment 30
may be configured to rotatably connect to the base 22 such that the
attachment 30 is locked relative to the base 22. In one embodiment,
the plurality of tabs 62 extending from the collar 60 are
configured to align with a plurality of complementary openings (see
FIG. 2) formed in the base 22. Rotation of the attachment 30 causes
the tabs 62 to engage adjacent channels, thereby preventing
unintended separation of the attachment 30 from the base 22 during
operation of the food processing system 20.
When the container 30 is mounted to the base 22, at least a portion
of the cutting assembly 62 is received within the base 22. The
coupling 78 of the cutting assembly 70 is positioned adjacent to
and in contact with the at least one drive coupler 26 of the base
22 such that the motorized unit and the cutting assembly 70 within
the container 30 are mechanically coupled. As a result, the
motorized unit can be adapted to drive rotation of the cutting
assembly 70 about axis A to perform one or more food processing
and/or blending operations when one or more buttons 29 of the user
interface 28 on the base 22 are actuated.
During operation of the food processing system 20, rotation of the
cutting assembly 70 increases the pressure and heat within the
chamber 42 of the container 30. In one embodiment, the temperature
within the chamber 42 may exceed 80.degree. C. In the event of
excessive heat and pressure build up within the container 30,
damage to the container 30 and/or the cutting assembly 70 may
occur. In one embodiment, the container 30 includes a pressure
relief system configured to prevent pressure within the cavity or
chamber 42 from exceeding a predetermined threshold, such as
between about 2-7 psi for example. To prevent the heat and/or
pressure within the chamber 42 from exceeding the threshold, the
system 20 may include a timing mechanism T operably coupled to the
motorized unit via a controller C (see FIG. 13). The threshold is
associated with a predetermined length of time. In one embodiment,
the timing mechanism is configured to monitor a length of time that
the attachment 30 is coupled to the base 24. In such embodiments,
the timing mechanism may be reset once the attachment 30 is
separated from the base 24. In another embodiment, the timing
mechanism is configured to monitor a length of time that the
motorized unit configured to drive rotation of the cutting assembly
about an axis X is operational. In such embodiments, the timing
mechanism may be reset once the motorized unit comes to a complete
stop and/or remains stopped for a set period of time. In
embodiments where the period of time monitored by the timing
mechanism exceeds the predetermined length of time, power may be
removed from the motorized unit. In addition, the system 20 may
require that certain conditions be satisfied prior to restarting
operation, such as unplugging the system 20 from a power source for
example. Although the timing mechanism T is illustrated in
conjunction with an attachment having an interior wall 34 and an
exterior wall 36, the timing mechanism T may be used on any
attachment 30 configured for use with the food processing system
20.
Alternatively, or in addition, the pressure relief system may
include venting air from within the cavity 42 to outside the
container 30 to reduce pressure. In one embodiment, the coefficient
of thermal expansion is different between the interior and exterior
walls 34, 36 of the container 30 and the collar 60. As a result,
during operation of the food processing system 20, the collar 60
and container 30 may partially separate to generate a small fluid
flow path through which air from within the cavity 42 may escape.
Alternatively or in addition, the pressure relief system includes a
pressure relief mechanism 80 configured to deform when the pressure
within the cavity 42 exceeds a threshold. In some embodiments,
deformation of the pressure relief mechanism 80 is elastic. For
example, a seal 82 arranged between the container 30 and the collar
60 (FIG. 14) may be configured to compress and create a fluid path
when the pressure within the cavity 42 exceeds a threshold.
In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, a portion of the
container 30, such as structure 56 for example, may be formed as a
pressure relief mechanism 80 via inclusion of a biasing mechanism
84. When the pressure within the cavity 42 exceeds a threshold, the
force acting on the structure 56 causes the biasing mechanism 84 to
compress, thereby increasing the volume of the chamber 42 and
reducing the pressure therein. In the illustrated, non-limiting
embodiment, deformation of the pressure relief mechanism 80 is also
configured to fluidly couple an opening 86 to the chamber 42,
allowing air from within the cavity 42 to vent outside the
container 30. Once the pressure within the container 30 drops to
below the threshold, such as via opening 86 or by removing the
cutting assembly 70, the biasing force of the biasing mechanism 84
will return the structure 56 to its original position. Although the
pressure relief mechanism 80 is illustrated and described as being
positioned adjacent the second end 40 of the container 30, another
mechanism 80 arranged at any location is within the scope of the
present disclosure. However, by positioning the mechanism 80
adjacent the second end 40 of the container 30, only air and not
the food being processed within the container 30 may be vented
through opening 86.
With reference now to FIGS. 16 and 17, the pressure relief
mechanism 80 may alternatively be configured to plastically deform
when the pressure within cavity 42 exceeds a threshold. In one
embodiment, the pressure relief mechanism 80 includes one or more
areas 88 having a reduced wall thickness relative to the remainder
of the container 30 and/or collar 60. For example, as shown in FIG.
16, an area 88 having a reduced wall thickness may be formed in the
portion of the collar 60 configured to overlap with the cutting
assembly 70. Due to the excessive heat within the cavity 42, the
thin walled areas 88 tend to soften. In combination with the heat,
when the pressure within the cavity 42 exceeds the threshold, the
pressure relief mechanism 80, specifically the softened area 88
will deform, such as by protruding outwardly. Although the entire
area 88 is illustrated as having a reduced wall thickness,
embodiments where only a perimeter of the area 88 has a reduced
wall thickness is also within the scope of the disclosure. In one
embodiment, the portion of the collar 60 including the one or more
areas 88 having a reduced wall thickness additionally includes a
plurality of corrugations formed about the periphery thereof (FIG.
17). The corrugations 89 are configured to prevent the formation of
a secondary seal between the collar 60 and the cutting assembly 70
when the one or more areas 88 deform.
In another embodiment, a pressure relief mechanism 80 is formed as
a seal adjacent an opening 90 in the container 30, the collar 60,
and/or the cutting assembly 70. With reference to FIG. 18, when the
pressure within the cavity 42 exceeds the threshold, the pressure
relief mechanism 80 is forced through the opening 90 and may
separate from the container 30. In some embodiments, the plastic
deformation of the pressure relief mechanism 80 may be configured
to prevent future use of the container 30 and/or collar 60 with the
food processing system 20. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 19 and
20, the pressure relief mechanism 80 may include a sealing member
91, such as a ball for example, coupled to a biasing mechanism 84
and arranged adjacent an opening 90. In one embodiment, the
pressure relief mechanism 80 is disposed within the spindle 74 of
the cutting assembly 70. During normal operation of the system 20,
the sealing member 91 seals a fluid flow path through opening 90.
However, when the pressure within the cavity 42 exceeds the
threshold, the pressure applies a force on the ball 91, thereby
compressing, or alternatively, extending the biasing mechanism. As
a result of the pressure, the sealing member 91 moves out of a
sealing position to allow a fluid flow through the opening 90,
thereby releasing pressure from within the cavity 42.
In yet another embodiment, the food processing system 20 is
configured to sense when the pressure within the cavity 42 exceeds
a predetermined threshold and stop operation thereof. For example,
as illustrated in FIG. 21, the system 20 may include a sensor,
illustrated schematically at S, configured to monitor at least one
parameter of a portion of the system 20, for example the shaft of
the cutting assembly 70. Upon detection that the parameter has
passed a predetermined threshold indicative of excessive pressure,
a controller C operably coupled to the sensor S removes power from
the motorized unit within the base 22, and therefore from the drive
coupler 26. Alternatively, the connection between the drive coupler
26 and the coupling 78 of the cutting assembly 70 may be
interrupted when the pressure within the cavity 42 exceeds a
threshold. As illustrated in FIG. 22, the coupling 78 of the
cutting assembly 70 and the drive coupler 26 are indirectly coupled
via a connection member 92. In one embodiment, the connection
member 92 may be formed from a heat sensitive material. When the
pressure within the chamber 42 exceeds the threshold, the elevated
temperate will cause the connection member 92 to melt, thereby
decoupling the cutting assembly 70 and the drive coupler 26. In
another embodiment, the heat sensitive material may be configured
to expand, thereby preventing rotation of the drive coupler 26
about the axis A. Alternatively, the connection member 92 is a
clutch configured to selectively disengage from one of the coupling
78 and the drive coupler 26 in response to excessive pressure.
Inclusion of a pressure relief system in container 30 allows the
container 30 to be manufactured from a greater variety of materials
including non-resilient materials such as stainless steel. In
addition, the insulated double-walled configuration of the
container 30 limits the amount of heat transfer from the container
30, thereby maintaining processed foods at a desired temperature
for an extended period of time.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and
patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the
same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically
indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its
entirety herein.
The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents
in the context of describing the disclosure (especially in the
context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both
the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or
clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having,"
"including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended
terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless
otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely
intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually
to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise
indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language
(e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better
illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the
scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in
the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed
element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.
Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are described herein,
including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the
disclosure. Variations of those embodiments may become apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing
description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such
variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the
disclosure to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described
herein. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and
equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended
hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of
the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is
encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or
otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
* * * * *